By Giavanni Alves Staten Island Advance, N.Y.
ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York State Police has signed onto the “30X30 Pledge,” committing to increasing representation of women on the force and improving the experiences of women in law enforcement.
As part of the pledge, the State Police will take on the goal of ensuring women comprise at least 30% of its new recruitment classes by 2030. Female membership of the force currently stands at 11.6%, which is not far off from the state’s 12% rate of female police officers in the country.
“The future success of our agency will rest on our ability to attract the most talented and diverse group of candidates possible to become New York State Troopers,” State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said in the announcement on Wednesday. “We are proud to stand alongside the dozens of other law enforcement agencies that have made a commitment to the 30X30 Initiative.”
The 30X30 Initiative, which is comprised of police leaders, researchers and professional organizations working together to advance women in policing across the nation.
Learn more about the 30x30 Initiative and why it matters in law enforcement:
The State Police are among more than 150 police departments across the U.S., including the NYPD, that have signed onto the “30X30 Pledge.” In signing on they have agreed to the following:
—Take measures to increase the representation of women in all ranks of law enforcement;
—Ensure that policies and procedures are free of all bias;
—Promote equitable hiring, retention and promotion of women officers; and
—Ensure their culture is inclusive, respectful, and supportive of women in all ranks and roles of law enforcement.
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The initiative is associated with the Policing Project at New York University’s School of Law and the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE).
A STATEWIDE POLICE FORCE INSPIRED BY TWO WOMEN
Two women are credited with starting the movement that led to the creation of the New York State Police. Moyca Newell and Katherine Mayo, along with the foreman’s employer advocated for the establishment of a state police force to provide protection to New York’s rural areas following the murder of a construction foreman during a robbery in Westchester in 1913. The man’s murderers walked free because there wasn’t a local police department at the time.
Subsequently, the New York State legislature passed a new law establishing the Division of State Police on April 11, 1917.
The first four women troopers graduated from the State Police’s academy in 1974.
“Police work is about public service, and law enforcement agencies are more effective when they have strong connections and reflect the diversity of the communities they serve,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in the Wednesday announcement of the pledge.
” The State Police was created over 100 years ago after the determined efforts of two women. We will build on this legacy and continue to diversify our ranks, and I encourage all who are interested to take advantage of the opportunity to have a profound and positive impact on the lives of others by joining this law enforcement community,” Hochul added.
RECRUITING SEASON
Signing the “30X30 Pledge” is part of the Division’s current recruitment campaign for their entrance exam, the first step towards becoming a NY State Trooper.
Recent efforts to recruit a more diverse group of applicants include moving the exam to a computerized format for the first time, to increase accessibility. The exam is available at 54 testing centers across the state, more than 250 locations in the country and 112 military locations around the world, according to the governor’s office. Applicants can choose where as well as when they take the exam.
The deadline to register for the NYS Trooper Entrance Exam is April 10, 2022. More information can be found on the Division’s recruitment website.
(c)2022 Staten Island Advance, N.Y.